Read More

Legislation will be introduced by the end of this year to bring in the proposals, subject to parliamentary approval, next year, as part of efforts to clean up the streets and countryside, which costs the taxpayer almost £800 million a year.

The Government said the powers should not be abused simply to raise money, so guidance on applying penalty notices will be issued, for example taking into account local circumstances such as ability to pay in setting fines.

"Throwing rubbish from a vehicle is just as unacceptable as dropping it in the street and we will tackle this anti-social behaviour by hitting litter louts in the pocket.

"These new fines will make sure the perpetrators, not the local community, bear the cost of keeping our streets and roads clean."

Martin Tett, the Local Government Association's environment spokesman, said councils had long called for greater powers to tackle littering and the measures were a 'hugely positive step in the right direction'.

Read More

"Councils being able to issue increased fines to litter louts who show no consideration for the community they live in will send a strong message to those who think their laziness is more important than the environment in which they live," he said.

"Allowing councils to fine the owners of vehicles which litter is thrown from, rather than expecting councils to prove who exactly in the vehicle had thrown litter, is also something that the LGA has long called for.

"It is great that from April, councils will be able to get tough with the anti-social minority who think our roads are a repository for rubbish."

Rubbish strewn at the top of Avenue Road, Ilfracombe (Image: Rob Tibbles)

He said town halls now needed to see more detail in the forthcoming guidance, warning that while recognising any action must be proportionate, it must also be robust to deterlittering.

Edmund King, president of motoring organisation the AA, said: "There is absolutely no excuse for car litter louts. Their selfish actions spoil the landscape and put road workers lives at risk when they have to clear up the mess."

He said 82 per cent of drivers supported increasing litter fines to £150, with just 6 per cent opposing the move.

"It is not difficult for car occupants to bag their litter and bin it in the right place," he said.